Hinton Ampner Garden

A restored eighteenth century house with a twentieth century garden. The garden was made by Ralph Dutton (Lord Sherbourne), who wrote a book on Hinton Ampner: A Hampshire Manor (Batsford, 1968). He also wrote a history of the English Garden (1937). Mea Allen described its 'one of Britain's great gardens to be seen if you can. A classical beauty of layout and ornament'. Ownership then passed to the National Trust. The garden has walks and terraces with hedges, topiary, ornaments and excellent planting. Dutton explained that 'my interest lies more in shrubs than in flowers' and that 'what above all I want from a garden is tranquility'. In his history of the English Garden Dutton remarks that William Robinson brought about 'an overwhelming improvement' in the standard of gardening and 'his honours are perhaps shared by Gertrude Jekyll' (p.99).